Head of Operations, Canada

Ocean Spray is hiring for a(n) Head of Operations, Canada! We’re a team of farmers, thinkers, creators, and doers. Whatever your title, whatever your role — it always comes back to this: we’re a farmer-owned co-op where everyone rolls up their sleeves to get the job done. Three maverick farmers started it all — and we’ve been making our own way ever since. 

The Canadian head of operations is responsible for leading the end-to-end operational strategy and execution for Ocean Spray’s Canadian business in collaboration with a cross functional team. This role serves as the primary bridge between Supply Chain, Sales, Retail Customers, Co-Manufacturing Partners, and Cross-Functional Teams to ensure exceptional customer service, optimized inventory levels, cost efficiency, and successful execution of innovation timelines. This position oversees Canadian co-manufacturing partners, demand forecasting, inventory management, innovation project management/execution, and customer supply chain relationships. The head of operations proactively identifies risks and opportunities, drives collaborative problem solving, and develops strategies to improve fill rates, optimize costs, and support sustainable business growth. This role reports into the Ocean Spray Canada general manager.

A Day in the Life...

Key Responsibilities: 

Co-Manufacturing Operations Leadership

• Lead the operational management and performance of Ocean Spray's Canadian co-manufacturing network on behalf of the coop.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with current and potential co-manufacturing partners to ensure quality, service, cost, and production targets are achieved.
• Monitor operational performance and drive continuous improvement initiatives and cost savings projects across manufacturing partners.
• Resolve operational issues and escalate risks as needed to minimize customer impact.
• Coordinate with manufacturing partners to align production, inventory, and procurement plans with OSI sales activities.
• Negotiate and finalize agreements and addendums with OS and partner legal teams.

Integrated Business Planning

• Own the Canadian IBP forecast process in partnership with cross functional team including forecasting, supply planning, and commercial teams.
• Ensure accurate demand forecasts that support service objectives, ensure lead times for procurement of raw materials, and inventory optimization in collaboration with demand planning team.
• Pressure test sales demand forecast through verifying trends, promotional activity, customer demand signals, and market dynamics to improve forecast accuracy.
• Provide recommendations to mitigate forecast risks and collaborate with the supply planning team when required to address changing business conditions. 

Innovation & Commercialization Project Management

• Lead Canadian innovation and product commercialization projects from concept through market launch.
• Coordinate cross-functional teams to ensure timelines, supply readiness, packaging, production, and customer requirements are met.
• Identify and resolve execution risks to ensure successful product launches.
• Serve as the operational lead for innovation initiatives and strategic business projects.

Customer Supply Chain & Relationship Management

• Build and strengthen relationships with retailer supply chain executives and key customer stakeholders.
• Serve as the primary operational liaison between customers and Ocean Spray for supply-related matters working in collaboration with global supply chain operations (customer service), supply planning, and business partnerships.
• Lead joint problem-solving efforts to resolve service, inventory, fulfillment, and operational challenges with the customer.
• Lead and execute any/all customer communications pertaining to operations/supply chain. 
• Develop and execute strategies to maximize customer fill rates while optimization supply chain costs in partnership with cross functional team. 

• Monitor service performance metrics and lead the implementation of corrective actions to address gaps through the cross functional team.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives that enhance operational efficiency and customer service.

Inventory Management & Supply Risk Leadership

• Maintain oversight of Canadian inventory health across all comans + DC partners.
• Proactively identify potential supply constraints, inventory risks, and service interruptions.
• Communicate in partnership with supply planning on emerging issues to Sales and leadership.
• Partner with Supply Planning, Transportation, and Logistics teams to establish the most effective route-to-market strategies.
• Recommend supply plan adjustments, allocation strategies, and mitigation actions to protect customer service and business performance.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner closely with Supply Planning, Sales, Customer Service, Transportation, Logistics, Procurement, Finance, Sales, Marketing, R&D, and Manufacturing teams.
• Align operational priorities with commercial objectives and business growth strategies.
• Facilitate decision-making and issue resolution across functional teams.
• Lead cross-functional initiatives that improve operational effectiveness and customer outcomes.
• Assist sales team with documentation and qualification requirements as requested.

Supply Chain Cost Savings & Continuous Improvement

• Champion cost reduction and productivity initiatives across the Canadian supply chain.
• Identify opportunities to improve transportation, warehousing, inventory, manufacturing, and network efficiencies.
• Lead cross-functional teams in executing savings projects and operational improvements.
• Participation/Influence in key network planning and deployment discussions impacting Canada
• Greater transparency to inventory positioning, service metrics, and transportation performance
• Regular engagement with customer supply chain counterparts
• Clear ownership of Canadian service level performance and customer deductions

What We Are Looking For:

Qualifications, Education, and Experiences

• Candidates must have a strong background in project management, with demonstrated proficiency in managing timelines, resources, and deliverables.
• A solid understanding of manufacturing operations and costs; ideally within food/beverage industry. 
• The ability to take initiative and lead projects or teams is essential.
• Strong analytical skills are required to interpret data, identify trends, and support decision-making processes.
• Exceptional problem-solving abilities are necessary to address challenges efficiently and implement effective solutions.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook).
• Strong knowledge of SAP is beneficial and/or experience learning, navigating, and utilizing the system for operational and reporting tasks.
• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration or related field
• 5+ years of experience in progressive roles in CPG, beverage, food, or like field 
• Experience leading teams through a cross functional team 

Must Have:

Builder: brings energy for the cross-functional team and the Canadian business, building and strengthening relationships

Disruptive and Fearless: you will revel in the opportunity to shape the bigger picture, cutting straight to the heart of the matter and enjoy making the plan a reality.

A Doer: one who takes pride in seeing projects through from concept to shelf, but also is diligent and disciplined in defining/following process

Inspired by Possibilities: a strong appetite for bringing new ideas to live to drive business results

Education:

Bachelor's or University Degree (Required)

Work Experience:

At least 7 Years of Experience

Benefits:

As a part of our global Ocean Spray family, we provide all the benefits you need to stay physically and financially healthy now and in the future. Below is a summary of the benefits available to Ocean Spray team members in Canada on day 1 of employment.

• Extended Healthcare (Medical, Dental and Vision Care)
• Life and Accident Insurance
• Disability Insurance
• Retirement Savings Plan
• Tax-Free Savings Account
• Wellness Program and Incentives
• Employee Assistance Program
• Team Member Referral Program
• Paid Time Off
• Adoption and Surrogacy Assistance
• Educational Assistance
• Team Member Volunteer Program
• Reward and Recognition Program

Who We Are:

You might have our iconic cranberry juice in your fridge or have gotten into heated holiday debate about what’s better - canned or fresh cranberry sauce. But did you know that the hardworking people growing the superfruit in our products are 700 family farmers that own our cooperative? They entrust us with what is most precious to them to create new and innovative products that will delight consumers and grow this beloved brand today and into the future.

Team members, farmers, consumers and communities alike--we value what makes us unique and strive to connect our farms to families for a better life by living our values:

• Grower Mindset – We embrace our grower-owners innovative spirit and heritage through confidence, learning and focus on the future.
• Sustainable Results – Guided by purpose, we are focused on delivering results for our grower-owners.
• Integrity Above All – We are ethical, doing the right thing for our grower-owners, customers, consumers and each other
• Inclusive Teamwork – We build diverse and inclusive teams that strengthen our cooperative.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status.

Notice of AI Use:
We use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to assess certain aspects of your application, including evaluating your skills against the requirements of the position. All decisions are reviewed by our recruitment team.